Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-19

II was IL at the iime-a wild. impuls-
i've, yet nervous and highly impressiona-
bic boy; an only child, as you know.
My people always took me to some sea
side place during the summer holidays:
but in the summer of my 18th year the
governor>yaS unable to leave town and
my mother preferred not to leave him.
1t looked as if ! should have no sea
breezes and bathing that year, when
an invitation for me arrived from a
maiden aunt. who had taken a cottage
| for the season at an east coast watering
! place. | was not particularly drawn
toward Aunt Maria, but ! was desperately
drawn toward niggeis, yellow sands,
wooden spades and sea water. l begged
my mother to let me go. Aunt Maria
received me next day
! Tom paused Ia fill his glass Iva
wondering what all this had to do with
niy beautiful Duchess.
AUNT Maria. he went on, "was %
and fuSsy. She profesSed to be fond Of
children. and to understand them. The
| profession was utterly hollow, as was
proved by the fact that children didn't
| like her. With children and animals
love begets love. Aunt Maria was dis
ciplinarian; children must not talk at Ia
Bile, and all that sort Of thing. Her ar
bitrary. old fashioned rules were more
especially irritating TO me- because every
I thing was 50 different at home. Perhaps.
being an only child. was little spoiled.
However, as l spent at least ten hours Of
the day in the open air managed to be
tolerably happy.
| ..Oniv one Of NV nv ats absurd rules
gave me any seriog trouble. 1t was
that children should manage to go to bed
without the aid of a light. Now to this,
as to the rest of aunt Maria's rules.
was quite unaccustomed: but beyond
that l was, as | have said. nervous
youngster. and | had a rooted dislike
out of which have never really grown
for being in the dark. Not, mind you.
that l was coward. would risk my
neck climbing dangerous cliff, and at
school stand up and take hiding with
the toughest Of them. But in the dark
my youthful nerves were unstrung, Or,
perhaps it would be more correct to say.
they were strung TO their highest pitch.
ti "dS fipt va VI
burglars. was frightened of being
frightened. Queer. isn't it: but you un-
derstand me-.
YES" grunted. 1t was psychology
cnily interesting; but l didn't see the
connection with my cat.
"One night pricked up my ears
and leaned forward; we were evidently
coming to the adventure-"one night. y
continued Tom in lowered tones, Il went
off 10 my bedroom as usual without a
candle. 1t was a pretty little room on
the ground floor, with window opening
into garden. | was trying 10 forget my
nerves by whistling an air l had heard
the niggers sing on the sands. People
who are nervous in the dark have various
modes of conduct Some are furtive and
quiet: others are noisy snd defiant.
adopted medium course. l affected
tranquility in u whistled melody and said
my prayers aloud.
1T was about o'clock and not par.
ticularly dark l could see dimly mosl
of the objects in the room. but the BED
was in deep gloom. Suddenlyl heard
something. an unusual noise. in the room
l had ceased whistling for a moment
while l stopped to unlace my boots. Ny
heart seemed TO stop beating and chill
shot up from my back to the roots Of M,
hair The sound came from the bed
What | was always -dreading had hap
pened. Ny sensitive nerves had beer
tstartled-shockei in the darkness. n
And what was it," asked, much in
terested.
"A white cat!'
WAS that all!
"Wait," exclaimed Tom i,npatiently
Il recovered my courage in a moment
walked straight to the bed. and discovere,
that the intruder was a cat. l lifted he
gently in my arms and carried her to tn
window. where found that she was pur
white, and very beautiful, exactly lik
YOUR Duchess. | would have caresse,
her, being fond of ANIMALS. but she strug
Cled in my arms. and after scratching
me slightly, managed to escape throug
the window into the garden.
..The next day l had forgotten a
about the cat l went TO bed in the dar
at the usual hour almost too tired to b
! nervous. l again received a shock. Jus
. as l was about to get into bed somethin
; Jumped to the floor, and rushed to an
through the window. crept into be
, with my heart beating violently, althoug
I knew ii was only the white cat, VIII
. had apparently taken strange fancy
| my bel.
THE same thing was repeated on se'
eral succeeding nights. went to be
expecting it, vet it never failed to affe'
, nv nerves in the same way. You ma
think this strange, but it is true. II
very anticipation of the incident aggr'
, waited its unpleasantness. began to III
5 like nv bedroom. to dread the hour whe
must retire 10 il. | grew to hate Il
: white cat. Had she allowed me to touc
: her, to talk 10 her in short. to mai
friends with her-it would have bet
different, for was really fond of animal
But she invariably fled from me-ghtstl.
silent and swift can only suppose lis
: she had been accustomed to i'll usag
g She feared me and hated her. Children
: passions are strong i'll proportion to II
g immaturity of their reason.
). "The time came when l felt that
v could bear the visits Of the white cat l
Q longer. Something must be done for n
t relief. Had my mother been with me
: should have contided my trouble to h
: at once. but she was in London. As I
o Aunt Maria. 'nstirctively felt that s.
would pooh-pooh the whole thing
% fine, that sine would not understand N
$ $ Failing grown up people, I 1determin
=. to explain the situation To a youngster
about my own age. with whom h
'e struck up u warm friendship. He wa
:. bright. bold eyed boy, strong. rough a
'" nnimaSinative-a true young Brlton.
when ! had finished my story I: